1987 Volkswagen Transporter — MOT History by Age

How cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age

39 years

Current Age

59.1%

Latest Pass Rate

11,750

Total Tests (All Years)

131,035 mi

Avg Mileage (Latest)

Data from official DVSA MOT testing records

Insufficient data for same-age comparison.

How This Car Ages

Pass rate progression for the 1987 Volkswagen Transporter as it ages.

22 yrs47.6%

→ ↑2.2%

23 yrs49.8%

→ ↑2.3%

24 yrs52.1%

→ ↓0.6%

25 yrs51.5%

→ ↑0.8%

26 yrs52.3%

→ ↓1.9%

27 yrs50.4%

→ ↑1.4%

28 yrs51.8%

→ ↓0.0%

29 yrs51.8%

→ ↑0.7%

30 yrs52.5%

→ ↑4.2%

31 yrs56.7%

→ ↑1.6%

32 yrs58.3%

→ ↓1.0%

33 yrs57.3%

→ ↑1.6%

34 yrs58.9%

→ ↑0.4%

35 yrs59.3%

→ ↑0.8%

36 yrs60.1%

→ ↓1.0%

37 yrs59.1%

📊 View as table

Age	Pass Rate	Tests
22 yrs	47.6%	806
23 yrs	49.8%	771
24 yrs	52.1%	760
25 yrs	51.5%	721
26 yrs	52.3%	715
27 yrs	50.4%	714
28 yrs	51.8%	706
29 yrs	51.8%	703
30 yrs	52.5%	866
31 yrs	56.7%	635
32 yrs	58.3%	633
33 yrs	57.3%	555
34 yrs	58.9%	645
35 yrs	59.3%	629
36 yrs	60.1%	679
37 yrs	59.1%	1,212

Pass Rate Trend

How the 1987 Volkswagen Transporter pass rate changes as it ages, from first MOT to most recent.

📊 View as table

Built	Pass Rate	Tests
2024 (37 yrs)	59.1%	1,212
2023 (36 yrs)	60.1%	679
2022 (35 yrs)	59.3%	629
2021 (34 yrs)	58.9%	645
2020 (33 yrs)	57.3%	555
2019 (32 yrs)	58.3%	633
2018 (31 yrs)	56.7%	635
2017 (30 yrs)	52.5%	866
2016 (29 yrs)	51.8%	703
2015 (28 yrs)	51.8%	706
2014 (27 yrs)	50.4%	714
2013 (26 yrs)	52.3%	715
2012 (25 yrs)	51.5%	721
2011 (24 yrs)	52.1%	760
2010 (23 yrs)	49.8%	771
2009 (22 yrs)	47.6%	806

Year-by-Year MOT Results

2009High Fail Rate

47.6%

Age (yrs) 22Tests 806Avg Mileage 124,361Top Failure Brakes — 31.0%

2010High Fail Rate

49.8%

Age (yrs) 23Tests 771Avg Mileage 128,110Top Failure Brakes — 27.5%

2011High Fail Rate

52.1%

Age (yrs) 24Tests 760Avg Mileage 129,005Top Failure Brakes — 27.9%

2012High Fail Rate

51.5%

Age (yrs) 25Tests 721Avg Mileage 129,812Top Failure Suspension — 29.1%

2013High Fail Rate

52.3%

Age (yrs) 26Tests 715Avg Mileage 133,300Top Failure Suspension — 66.7%

2014High Fail Rate

50.4%

Age (yrs) 27Tests 714Avg Mileage 133,980Top Failure Brakes — 76.6%

2015High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 28Tests 706Avg Mileage 135,356Top Failure Suspension — 74.1%

2016High Fail Rate

51.8%

Age (yrs) 29Tests 703Avg Mileage 133,916Top Failure Suspension — 69.0%

2017High Fail Rate

52.5%

Age (yrs) 30Tests 866Avg Mileage 133,212Top Failure Brakes — 59.2%

2018High Fail Rate

56.7%

Age (yrs) 31Tests 635Avg Mileage 138,821Top Failure Suspension — 64.6%

2019High Fail Rate

58.3%

Age (yrs) 32Tests 633Avg Mileage 135,086Top Failure Suspension — 67.3%

2020High Fail Rate

57.3%

Age (yrs) 33Tests 555Avg Mileage 137,681Top Failure Suspension — 65.9%

2021High Fail Rate

58.9%

Age (yrs) 34Tests 645Avg Mileage 129,418Top Failure Suspension — 62.5%

2022High Fail Rate

59.3%

Age (yrs) 35Tests 629Avg Mileage 131,189Top Failure Suspension — 63.9%

2023High Fail Rate

60.1%

Age (yrs) 36Tests 679Avg Mileage 131,480Top Failure Suspension — 59.8%

2024High Fail Rate

59.1%

Age (yrs) 37Tests 1,212Avg Mileage 131,035Top Failure Suspension — 47.9%

MOT results for 1987 Volkswagen Transporter by test year
Test Year▲	Age (yrs)▲▼	Pass Rate▲▼	Tests▲▼	Avg Mileage▲▼	Top Failure▲▼
2009	22	47.6%	806	124,361	Brakes — 31.0%
2010	23	49.8%	771	128,110	Brakes — 27.5%
2011	24	52.1%	760	129,005	Brakes — 27.9%
2012	25	51.5%	721	129,812	Suspension — 29.1%
2013	26	52.3%	715	133,300	Suspension — 66.7%
2014	27	50.4%	714	133,980	Brakes — 76.6%
2015	28	51.8%	706	135,356	Suspension — 74.1%
2016	29	51.8%	703	133,916	Suspension — 69.0%
2017	30	52.5%	866	133,212	Brakes — 59.2%
2018	31	56.7%	635	138,821	Suspension — 64.6%
2019	32	58.3%	633	135,086	Suspension — 67.3%
2020	33	57.3%	555	137,681	Suspension — 65.9%
2021	34	58.9%	645	129,418	Suspension — 62.5%
2022	35	59.3%	629	131,189	Suspension — 63.9%
2023	36	60.1%	679	131,480	Suspension — 59.8%
2024	37	59.1%	1,212	131,035	Suspension — 47.9%

Common MOT Failures

Top failure categories across all test years for 1987 Volkswagen Transporter, with age trends.

Suspension

54.3%

↑ Increases with age

Brakes

51.6%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

38.1%

↑ Increases with age

Lamps, Reflectors and Electrical Equipment

37.8%

↓ Decreases with age

Body, chassis, structure

26.8%

— Consistent

How Failures Change With Age

Comparing failure rates between the youngest and oldest test years.

Category	At Youngest	At Oldest	Change	Trend
Suspension	23.2% (22 yrs)	47.9% (37 yrs)	+24.7%	🔴 ↑
Brakes	31.0% (22 yrs)	46.9% (37 yrs)	+15.9%	🔴 ↑

Other Manufacture Years

Looking for the best year to buy? See the full comparison on the Volkswagen Transporter page →

About This Data

This page shows how Volkswagen Transporter cars manufactured in 1987 perform at MOT as they age. Data spans from 2009 to 2024, covering 11,750 tests. Pass rates naturally decline with age as components wear.

Based on DVSA anonymised MOT test data (2005–2024). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.